Construction is progressing smoothly on Phase I of the Turin metro, following a recent breakthrough on Lot IV (T&TI, April 2003).
It was the Lovat TBM’s second drive on the 2.6km long section between Pozzo Strada and Principi d’Acaja. The 7.8m diameter EPBM, operated by a Joint Venture between Grandi Lavori Fincosit and SELI, set off in January this year and now has another three sections to bore.
The tunnel runs through cobbles, gravel, sands and fines, and is lined with a 300mm thick precast concrete segment (six and a key), bringing the internal diameter down to 6.9m. The US$37.8M contract also includes five stations and ventilation shafts.
Tunnelling on the US$79.4M, 2.9km long Lot V on Phase I, between Principi d’Acaja and Porta Nuova, is scheduled to start in November this year – the 8m diameter refurbished NFM TBM arrived on site at the end of last month. Construction has already begun on the five stations.
Geodata and Systra are providing design and project management services to the scheme.
Contracts for the construction of the 3.9km long Phase II, between Porta Nuova and Lingotti, will be awarded at the beginning of 2004.